SUNRISE, Fla. -- Jaromir Jagr has heard that the Penguins are trying to trade Alexei Kovalev, continuing the long exodus of Pittsburgh's top NHL talent. And he thinks he knows why it's happening.
"I'm not surprised at all," he said yesterday. "Maybe if they build a new arena, it's going to stop. Until that happens ... I'm not a businessman, but that makes sense."
Jagr's exit, via trade to the Washington Capitals in July 2001 for three prospects and cash, was one of many in recent years forced out in large part by the Penguins' limited budget. Their current payroll of roughly $31 million ranks 23rd in the 30-team NHL, and they have no public funding in place for the new Uptown arena they hope to have by 2006.
Jagr was asked if he felt that even the promise of a new arena would have allowed him and others such as defenseman Darius Kasparaitis to have remained Penguins.
"If they had a new arena, yeah, that probably would have happened," he said. "We would all still be there."
Jagr says to keep top talent Penguins need a new arena 
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